Friday Five: Cheap Thrills of The Week

You know those obnoxious people who can tell you the exact date when they were last sick because they have such magical immune systems that no common cold can take them down? Well I am one of those people, and I’m sorry. But this week karma caught up with me in the form of some kind of barfy head cold that has made me sad all week.

One thing that’s made me feel better, though, is actually five things – a couple of little purchases I made that have cheered me up while I sweated through my pajamas. I figured if you’re here you and I have similar taste, so I hope you find something fun that will give you cheap thrill.

1. Vegan Oxfords

My favorite shoes are a pair of silver Matt and Nat oxfords I picked up at MooShoes for $120, but I recently picked up a pair of faux patent dupes on Zulily for $17. No, they’re not as comfortable as Matt and Nat, and they won’t last as long, but a week in I’ve already gotten my money’s worth out of them. (Items on Zulily come and go, but I check every day because they often have cute vegan shoes and accessories. If you’re new to the site you can get $15 off your first order when you sign up with my link.)

2. Type O Negative Enamel Pin

I’ve written about my Type O fandom in the past, so it’s been exciting to see so many options pop up as the enamel pin craze continues to grow. This Hey Peter pin from Depression Pin Co. is exactly what I’ve been waiting for – the color is spot on, it’s just the right size, and it was only $8.

3. Pig Island T-Shirt

Yep, I’m plugging my own shirt, but I was genuinely stoked to receive mine. If you’ve been vegan for more than five seconds, someone has probably asked you what you’d eat if you were stuck on an island with nothing to eat but pigs. For some reason in this scenario you can’t eat what the pigs are eating, and there is no other vegetation on the entire island. Just you, pigs, and sand. It’s a stupid question, and I’ve always wanted a vacation shirt advertising this stupid, stupid place so now I have one. From my own shop. $15.49 and up, available on a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles.

4. Dayglo Frankenstein Print

Yes, I know that’s the doctor’s name, not the monster’s name. Either way, I ordered this print from FriendPrices as soon as they were available in his online shop. The print was only $18, but I’m warning you in advance that if you’ve never checked this shop out you’re going to buy 3-5 things. It’s like Target for scumbags.

5. Stamped Forks

I’ve known Christine from The Family Vegan for some time now, and have recently become a collector of her hand-stamped forks. She “rescues” them from thrift stores and yard sales, and stamps them with cute little messages. I love that she’s upcycling, and that I can use a “vegan” or “meat is murder” fork in my instagram photos. Prices vary, but most are only $3 each. DM her on Instagram to order.

Money can’t buy everything, but it can buy cheap thrills that cheer you up when you’re sick.